Charging ahead for polar bear conservation
Polar bears are gathering around Hudson Bay right now. Moms and cubs are snuggling, young males are sparring, but mostly the bears are waiting. Waiting for the Bay to freeze so they can head out on the ice and resume hunting their favorite seal prey. The bears know this is where the Bay’s sea ice freezes first, so they gather here every autumn and gaze longingly toward the horizon. For us, it’s a spectacular sight to behold since polar bears are usually solitary and found in remote corners of the North.
I’m thrilled to be back among the bears near Churchill, Canada, observing them and sharing their stories with the world through the polar bear live cams from explore.org and Polar Bears International. So far, the cameras have captured tender scenes of mothers and cubs napping on windy days, along with surprise appearances by ptarmigans and foxes.
As a polar bear scientist, this time of year, I get to call the tundra my office. I’ve been coming to Churchill for over a decade to observe this remarkable species and share them with the world.
But this time, something’s different. The bears are looking healthy, but it’s warmer than usual this time of year… and it’s quieter too.
That’s because my “office” is now the new EV Tundra Buggy One, a battery-powered vehicle that doubles as both a research station and mobile broadcast studio. Imagine a silent, sustainable school bus built for the Arctic, roaming amid polar bears on giant monster-truck wheels. After two decades, we’ve said goodbye to our diesel-powered Tundra Buggy One and are thrilled to welcome this cleaner, quieter, and more climate-friendly upgrade.
Its silent maneuvering means we don’t disturb the bears, while its zero-emission design ensures we’re not adding to the climate crisis—the greatest threat polar bears face worldwide.
EV Tundra Buggy One is a testament to how innovation and clean energy can thrive, despite harsh subarctic conditions all the way down to -30°C. It’s the first EV Tundra Buggy built from the ground up, with a completely bespoke design that we pulled together with the amazing team at Frontiers North Adventures, a leader in sustainable tourism, and was built by the talented Northern Noble Ltd team. This all means it’s a sweet ride.
Features include:
- Energy-efficiency: Replacing a gas-powered buggy with an electric one means a cleaner, quieter future for Arctic research and outreach. The fiberglass materials improve insulation, while larger, lighter windows enhance viewing and filming.
- Next-level broadcasts: A fully equipped, state-of-the-art media studio allows our team to produce world-class programming with enhanced lighting, screens and power access, sharing polar bear conservation stories with millions around the globe.
- Improved living space (yes, there are bunk beds!): With temperature and lighting controls, a kitchen, sink, shower, and bunk beds, our team can live and work comfortably in the field. The buggy holds up to 12 researchers and sleeps six, supporting longer missions in the tundra.
Our team of Polar Bears International scientists and visiting researchers have been taking the Tundra Buggy out for a spin since it arrived via train just one week ago. We even welcomed our first special guest—animator Aaron Blaise, known for his work on The Lion King, Aladdin, and Brother Bear. He’s hand-drawn a new short film, Snow Bear, all about connection and climate hope. You can follow along on Polar Bears International’s social channels to see his live polar bear sketching sessions, inspired by the view right outside EV Tundra Buggy One.
No matter where you are in the world, you can join this extraordinary polar bear gathering through our Polar Bear Live Cams (powered by explore.org, the largest live nature network in the world, along with Polar Bears International, Frontiers North Adventures, Parks Canada, and the Churchill Northern Studies Center) and Tundra Connections live chats with scientists.
Most importantly, you can take action in your own community. If battery-powered Tundra Buggies can thrive in the Arctic, communities everywhere can invest in clean energy and sustainable transportation. The future of polar bears and people is deeply connected, and together, we can create a better, brighter world for both.
Read other articles by Alysa McCall:
Celebrating Arctic Sea Ice with Churchill’s Beluga Whales
Living Safely with Polar Bears
Reasons to Be Hopeful this International Polar Bear Day: a Future for Children and Cubs
The Belugas Have Arrived! Tune Into Their Migration on Arctic Sea Ice Day
Brilliant! Thanks for the insider information on the EV Tundra Buggy One. I hope to visit Churchill next November.